A breakthrough is an incredible thing. For your health, it means discovering something new about yourself, finding a habit that works, or making some startling realization about how you interact with nutrition and fitness in your daily life. A breakthrough signals a change for the better. Now, let’s talk about how you get there, because it’s not just a matter of time; it’s a matter of effort.

1.Work SmallThe first step to finding your breakthrough is realizing that it doesn’t have to be big. In fact, a breakthrough can be a small thing that only matters to you – Cut out your nightly glass of wine. Kick your addiction to diet soda. Get in the habit of using online grocery ordering and pick up in time management. Find a little change that works for you and be proud of it. Before long, those little changes start to add up into one big one, and that's a phenomenal feeling.

2. Embrace the UncomfortableTo find your breakthrough, before anything else, you have to be in the market, and that means getting out of your comfort zone. If you’re in your comfort zone, you’re not going to have a breakthrough. Breakthroughs happen when you change your habits, try something new, or push your personal boundaries. If you're looking for a breakthrough, start by making a change.

3. Be Willing to FailIn order to succeed, it helps to be willing to fail. As with any attempt worth making, you have to push through the hard to get to the good. I spent hundreds of hours in the water, painstakingly trying out new techniques to make the time pass before I ever found a strategy that worked for me. So in addition to being willing to be uncomfortable, be willing to fail. Try new things until you get it right, and eventually, you WILL get it right.

4. Be PersistentLast, and most importantly, don't give up. You'll be uncomfortable; you will fail, but it you keep going, you'll succeed. You really will find your breakthrough. Keep swimming; keep running; keep looking for new ways to improve your eating habits. A breakthrough may feel like a moment, but it's days, weeks, even years in the making. Work for it, and never give up.